The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-05

cross the cupola toward tile opposite
ide. Some thing in her method of
raised question in my mind
Is l looked down on her from my posi-
ion on the ladder. 1t was solved by
he time she reached window. She
,ut out one of her little white hands
md rested it on the window sash. At !
he same time the young man ex-
claimed, Miss, Clara! What are |
you doing?'
"She made no answer, and he
sprang toward her.
'Clara!' he cried, in an anxious
what is it? Why did you
come up here so late? Let me assist
you down, please
"She turned toward him, and sud-
den change came over her face. 1t
was one of confusion and surprise.
l don't know how you would describe
it.
+" Where am I?' she cried, and then
she gazed about the cupola in a strange
sort of way. Before the other person
could speak she rushed into his arms,
which were quickly outstretched to
catch her. The pretty little blonde
was somnambulist.
II threw myself on the bed, and
must have fallen asleep she said, ex-
citedly.
1.-The gentleman-for he behaved
like an honorable fellow through it
all-endeavored to sooth her and per-
suaded her to 60 down to the lower
regions, but she grew hysterical and
he could do nothing with her.
81 saw you go up the stairs as I
was going to my room,' he said. I
could not understand why you went
up toward the cupola, and l followed
you. Thank God, Ibid, Come below,
Clara. Do come
'She answered him by a nervous
sort of laugh. In another instant there
was the sound of some one rushing up
the ladder, and the other admirer, his
face furious with passion, sprang into
the cupola. He shouted out:
"'Miss , all is over between you
and me. Any girl who will meet a
man in this place at this time of night
can't be my wife. AS for you, sir, you
must settle with me for your conduct.
Then he jumped on the other fellow
like tiger could tell by his utter
ance that he was full of champa gne
and that he was crazed with jealousy.
1.-The fury of that onset nearly
threw the attacked party to the floor,
but he struggled in self-defense, ant.
the two were locked in u moment in
sort of catch-as- catch-can embrace.
The girl was dazed at first, and then
she gave little cry and sank on the
floor in dead faint. The young men.
who were too much enga ged to notice
me, charged and tloundered about the
cupoIa like two dogs in fight. II
was rough and tumble, hit and gouge
on the part of the assailant and resist
as best he might on the part of the other
The two got on their feet, when a sudden
idea seemed to seize the furious young
man, who was frantic with excite
ment. Getting fresh hold, he dragged
his rival toward the open window
which looks down on that steep roo
| of the l. there.
"'Out you go! he said, as he painted
from the violence of his exertion.
"Neither one of the pair was wha
| you would call powerful. The fellow
who was assaulted, especially, was lik
many other city young men Of tn
time; he was better fitted for walt
than such contest. The other wa
clearly stronger, and his rage made
him overwhelmingly so. Quicker thai
l am telling you of what they did, h
had ierked the weaker one to the win
dow.
"'Out you got he again exclaimed
The other one, who was pretty wei
winded, grasped the side of the win
dow casing there and held on. strug
Cling hard to prevent his grasp beinI
torn away. But it was useless, and il
another moment he would have gon
out to stop only when he reached tn
ground of the back yard, away dow
there.
II had watched the whole affair wit
strange fascination. / had kel
quiet until the time had come when
could do so no longer. l sat on thu
step up yonder. 1t is about eight c
nine feet above the floor. l gave
leap as saw the hold of the youn
fellow give away. l landed with
crash on the boards at the foot OF til
ladder and seized the lunatic aroun
the waist. The next thing he kne
was that he was on the floor on I'll
opposite side of the cupola. am pref
| ty strong now but then 1 was able t
have handled two or three such fe
lows.
LAS stood over him said:
you stir / will throw you out! an
then turned to the other. He ha
leaned gainst the window, with or
hand pressed over his heart.
"'Pray take her upr was all
could utter, so exhausted was he.
II picked up the girl, and, tellin
the crazy man that if he stirred fro
the spot from which he had pickle
himself up would pound the life OF
} of him, ] motioned to the other one
60 ahead and lifted the sleep-walk'
to the stairway. 1t was hard work
, l. 4 .sxaa han